05-13-2008, 09:38 PM
http://www.popularpets.net/snakes/pictures/asp.php
An asp is a sort of viper, not a cobra. Now why anyone would want one for a pet is a much more complicated question. I think there would be lots of quick poisons available to the Queen of Egypt, so a snakebite doesn't seem the best choice to me, but that's what tradition says.
In Ernle Bradford's book, Cleopatra, pg 269-270 (ISBN 0-141-39014-X), he says it was a snake, but that the snake was never found. Some said they saw traces of it (I assume that means "tracks") on the beach near her window, and Octavian reported small marks, perhaps fang marks on one of her arms.
An asp is a sort of viper, not a cobra. Now why anyone would want one for a pet is a much more complicated question. I think there would be lots of quick poisons available to the Queen of Egypt, so a snakebite doesn't seem the best choice to me, but that's what tradition says.
In Ernle Bradford's book, Cleopatra, pg 269-270 (ISBN 0-141-39014-X), he says it was a snake, but that the snake was never found. Some said they saw traces of it (I assume that means "tracks") on the beach near her window, and Octavian reported small marks, perhaps fang marks on one of her arms.
M. Demetrius Abicio
(David Wills)
Saepe veritas est dura.
(David Wills)
Saepe veritas est dura.
